Heating by means of solid fuel of very small sizes



Aug. 13, 1935. A. VANDEVELDE 1 HEATING BY MEANS OF SOLID FUEL OF VERY SMALL SIZES Filed Feb. 23, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l [N veA/Za 1935. A. VANDEVELDE 2,011,093

HEATING BY MEANS OF SOLID FUEL OF VERY SMALL SIZES Filed Feb. 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g Yam/@614 I NYf f &

a twh lr q Patented Aug. 13, 1935 Y l HEA TlNG' 'BY MEANS 0F.SOLID FUELJOF' i Y i I VERY" SMALL SIZES A imi yandevelde, BrusselsQBelgium:

Application February 23, 1933, Serial No. 658,220

' In Belgium September 22, "1932:;

a e Q25 o aims; (o1. 12%;)1 a e i v The invention has relation to the heatingby Referring'toFigs'. land 2, the boiler which may means of solid fuel and concerns particularly the heating by means of domestic fires and thec'ent'ral heating for buildings and th'elik'e;

The main. object of the invention ism-enema coals of very small sizes; that is to say of the order of 5 to 10 m. m. and'lessto be used for this purpose, and'particularly coals" of reduced contents in volatile matters. 7 a The invention-consists in forming a the heating source by means of a bed or 1ayer of said"fuel in which are formed anurnber of firing and'gas ofthe natural fall of the fuel.

forming centers by blowing therein air under pressure,the said blowing being" eifeoted horizontally but preferably vertically'downward or inan inclined downward direction, that isto say in the direction or approximately inthe' direction The invention also consists in forming' fthe blowing" device by n'ieansofa nozzle orgroups of nozzles, which nozzles may 'be arrangedat' different levels, such nozzles being water cooled 'either individually or in groupsby locating saidv groups-inwater chambers of ,the apparatus.

which may be formed during combustion.

The invention further consists in maintaining a certain thickness of fuel, for example of a few centimeters height above the. upperblowing nozqzles, preferably means of a continuous gravityfeedfl' H v QIhe invention further consists in so arranging thefu el sup ply that thecoal is fe d in the same direction as the'y blowing. air that is to" say (fromthe san'le side that the air relative tofthefslags And in order that the invention maybe easily understood it will be now desoribed witht mor'e details in reference to the annexed drawings h wi g .b' 'war of exam e. e ent fas nplied to anapparatus for lcentraljheating pur-- poses v these drawings: l 7

1g; 1 is a diagrainmatical cross1sectiona1 elevaview offa boiler for central heating purposes provided with a fire-box embodying the invention.

. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the tion ofthe firebox. 4 H

, Fig. 4 is a part detail view. f

Fig 5 is'a sectional view along 5+5 Fig f 6; and

Fig. dis a longitudinal sectionalviewnth O l h a :boiler provided Witha central blowing device.

- Fig. '7 is a side elevation and Figl 8 a sectional view through 8-; Fig. 'Iof a modified construction of the blowing device: '1 I be of circular, rectangular or any other shape has been illustrated in a conventional manner ascom- 'pr'i'sin'ga water chamber land'a firebox 2, but his a to be understood thatthe arrangement: might .be 5 diflerent and 'of any known? design. wThe fire box 2 is connected to the usual chimney (not shown) through the conduit 'flz provided with ai damper '43 "i l -7 1T 7 The said firebox! is"provided with-apair of water jacketed Walls 3 leaving a'space d between 'Ihese-'nozzles sand 9 are; arranged at different 'levelsfandare of diifer'e'ntcross sections'fbut all the "said nozzles are inclined downwardly that is essay in the direction'of thenatural'fall ofthe 1- a I. Theair chambers 5 areconnected together as at suppliedwith air underpressure introducedftherein by means of a pipe H' illustrated as connected to the fan l2 operated throughan electrical motor l*3.- However this pipe 'couldals'o he connected to any other supply. source o'f coinpressed air provided'with a suitable slhut'ter orthe is provided with acontrolyalve" i4 'foi 'adjustingtliair flowthelreingy a y 1 jThe inner surfaces I501. the water partition s tare fslopedoutwardlyflto a small extent to enlarge somewhat" the space 4 in downwarddirecw tion and either inor on'the surfaces Hi guide members l6 have been providedfor the purpose explainedlaterom 7 Above "thespace 4 o'f'the fire box? is ar''- ranged afuel'distributornl1, the'mouth piece of k which extends alongthe major .axis of the space .4, but is of smaller length than said axis.

The mouthpiece ,n is connected through a lconduit l8 of comparatively large section to a fuel hopper 19 arranged at a suitable location and fonexarnme at the top of the boiler. V A shutter .46, preferably of theirotating type asillustratedfis provided at the ,lower end of the conduit l8.

e 20 designates .a thermostat device and hide;- sired a thermometer 2| may be providedfthe I thermostat device controlling a switch 22 insupply circuit 23 of the electric to control the shutter of the said source.

The arrangement .is completed by means of a plate 24 closing the bottom of the space 4, said plate sliding on the lower guide members Iii on the surfaces l5 above the usual ashpit 25, and a plate 26 (Fig. 4) is provided and adapted to engage on the upper guides =l6 and to be operated as hereafter explained.

In Figures 5 and 6, I and 2 .againdesignate the water chamber and the fire box respectively, illustrated in a conventional manner. The fire box 2 is connected to the chimney by means of the conduit 42 provided with a damper 43.

A trough like member 455 is provided in the xfire. :hox 2, the sides and the-bottom of said ztroughhaving been illustrated :as formed by -means 20f a, solid plate, :but these sides :and bottom mould be formed as 'water partitions and connectednin'rthewater -:circui-t of'the boiler -.as those xlesignated by-the reference number .3 in ,Figs.

ilnndi2. The sides oil-the trough #5 show a marked downward slope, approximating the natural :slope pf the coal, a slope :such as 45 (being-suit- :able for coals or 5-10 'mm. as sizes.

The bottom of thetroug-h maybe solid with the :sides :t-hereoi :as illustrated 101' it may be Eformed :as a detachable member removable by means of a longitudinal sliding movement.

A gap 52 may be provided all around the upper .edge set the trough or :on a :part of said edge only ::for the :admission of auxiliary combustion air.

Above and at some distance from the bottom of the trough 4 5 there is provided a blowing .de-

vice comprising a pear like section conduit 46 ;;having.a*.slot-A-1 .formed therein and surrounded ;by a casing -48, theinter-mediate space 43 being 'divided into two compartments communicating together at :one endand forming a water chamber.

l The end of the conduit is connected through .a-conduit 1.1,;providedwith a closing member l4, atoltheipressure side .ofthe-fan .l-2-operatedthrough .the electric motor 13 :under control of --a thermostat-device 20 anda switch .22 .as in foregoing .example. .The casing A8 is connected, through the pipes or conduits 35 and 36 to the water circuit of the ==boiler,, .theoutlet of .the casing .being connected to the hot water .main 28. However the casing ,48 may be arranged as a separate. water circuit. .Also the blowing device maybe .arranged as illustrated in Eigs. 7 and .8 in which case the air under pressure .is supplied through a .conduit .29 uarorwided withaslot 50in the lower part thereof and distributed through two lateral slots 41 sloping in downward direction, and :formed between .a lower tconduit .30 and two upper conduits :3I adjacent the conduit 29, theconduits 3-0 and .31 being connected to a box 82 and the conduits S3l being connected to a box 33=-provided with a jun'ction member 34. The box 32 is arranged so ss to avoid the formation of a vapor chamber therein "and a conduit 51' connecting the box 32 :to the connecting :member '34 may be provided 'for "that purpose. I

.A soldered connection is termed between the conduits -29 and f3l and the cooling water enters the conduit 30 and escapes through the conduits SI and the box 33.

Above the blowing device within the firebox 2 there is provided a fuel distributing member ll, extended in the direction of the major axis of the fire space 4, the distributing member H being provided with a rotating shutter M and supplied in fuel through a conduit l8 of compara- .tively large section connected to a hopper i9 arranged at the top of the boiler. A thermometer 2| completes the arrangement.

The operation is as follows:

The hopper 19 being filled up with coals of 2 small .Sizes, and for example with coals of 5-10 mm. of relatively small content in volatile matter, this fuel falls by gravity through the dis- :tributor ll and ,forms a bed in the space 4 or in the trough 45, up to a few centimeters, above the upper nozzles 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) or the slots 41 FigsQ5 and 6.)

The fire then being started, the motor 13 is operated and the air passing through 8 (Figs. land2) or 47 (Figs. 5 and 6) forms in the vicinity of these nozzles a number of active combustion and gas forming centers, while the remainder of the bed slowly enters in more or less marked combustion, the combustion of the formed gases being completed above the bed partly with the aid of the air passing through '8 (and M and par-tlyby vmeans of air passing through 9.-(Figs. 1 and'Z) or 52 around the trough 7 45- (Figs. 5 and 6) In Figs. ,1 and :2 the air passing through the .nozzles 3 is intended to insure-- the combustion of theiuel having passed the zone of the combustion centers of the nozzles 8 without-being completely-burnt out,'but such nozzles may not always be required or also they may form more or less .active combustion or gas forming centers.

The combustion products'escape to-the chimney through the conduit 42, the damper d3 of which is-suitablyadjusted for-that purpose.

When the temperature of the water in the boiler raises the point of adjustment ofithe thermostatdevice, said thermostat .device operates to open the switch .22 and stops the electric motor l3 .and the blowing of the air. Under such'circumstances a state of slow combustion succeeds to the activity of the combustion and gas form- .ing centers, said-slow combustion remaining insuredby means of thesmall draught through the passage in, the conduit 42 adjusted by the damper 4,3,, the combustion .air passing through the fan, conduit I chambers .5, and nozzles .8 and 9 in .Figs. land .2 or through the fan, conduit H and .theslotdl in Figs. 5 and 6.

'lhisslow combustion state remains established aslong ,as-the .temperatureof the boiler does not drop .below that for which .the thermostat device 20 has been adjusted.

When this limit is reached the thermostat detheshutter 441.103 sliding it on the upper guides [6 as indicated in dottedlines in Fig.2. 2

viceactuates the switch-.22, operating the electric and thereupon easily removed through the. usual-=1;

loading opening .of'the firle box-unbroken to piecesand carried along in the free space '21 pipe-17:

- served at the rear end of'the fire box, and thence" transferred to the ash-pit-ZSibyJ: some iiorward:v

1 nozzles and extending to the delivery ends thereof,

movement of the. plate 24.:5511. g

It, at the time 'cinders are to be removed from above'the plate 24; thela'tter is whollyyremoved I 1063 and again inserted before the plate '26'is removed;

, Inthe. arrangements'in (accordanceiwith Figs: 6 and 7, the slagsiwhich may, havebeen formed are'located oppositethe air jet or jets andgor on either side ofthe blowing device but in :view of the fact that the fuel supply is looatedonwthe' same side as the air s'upplyrelative to these slags, the fresh fuel is always suppliedin zonesathrough which the air passes withthe result that :no adjustment of. the blowing pressure is required dursaid trough, water cooling means associated with ing the grow ofstheslags and that aregular combustion 'is'-:.obtained whatever period .thevfire has. i

been operated without removal of the slags.

Other things being less powerful.

the fire box.

In'the-em'bodiment according t Figs. 1 mid s-1 equal the fan may thus be arranged with their delivery ends within the troughvandi at a distance below the upper level thereof, water cooling means associated with said coal deliverylm'eans extended in downward direc- --The slagsfaref either raisedi above-the fuelbed '1 formedzwith 'aniopentopped trough having anonperforated bottom adapted to containa bed of" small" sized::coals,- downwardly directed nozzles tionto the vicinity of the upper level of the trough whereby 'thercoal is delivered by gravity to said trough, means to supply air under pressure to thenozzles and means toobturatethe fuel supply means. s

perforatedbottom adapted to contain a bed-of small .sizedwcoals, downwardly directed nozzles arranged with their :delivery' ends within the trough andat adistance below the upper level of the nozzles. and extending to the delivery ends thereof, coal feeding means in the form of a descendingconduit with a delivery mouth located in .thevicinity of the top level of the trough and rotating shutter adjacent the deliveryend of the descending conduit, and means to supply air under the water partitions 3 and the chambers 5 are arrangedas p'arts'of thefire box. 2, butitremain's withinthe'limitsof the invention to construct;

the partitions 3; chambers'li, nozzles 8 and 9, con.-

duits I0 and thej'unction members as a separate structure adaptable to existing fire boxes; the sup-v I8' entering: the firebox 2 either through" the loading'door or throughthetop part "ply conduit In Fig. 3the'arrangement of firebox .2 similar to th'at of theprece'ding figures but the surfaces 1 :-1.|5of the Water. partitions'3 are of step formation, 1 thus reducing-the Width of the bedat the level of 1 then'ozzles 9 and providing guides lfi fontheplates 1 24am :0. i l

The reduction of the widthat theibottom'part ;;1of the bed tendstoprevent the fuel to passthrou'gh .I

the zone 4 of the nozzles 8 without being burnt :1: therein and enables the 1 number "and cross sec-. :2

these nozzles to be dispensed with; 506 1;

Nozzles l'delivering secondary combustion air above the uppellevel of thefuel bed may beIpro-w.

vided if desired. if

55:12; Although-the "invention has been particularly tio'alareaOf the'nozzles 9 to be reduced and even T 'In this example the chambers S'are inlthe form of conduits arranged in the waterp'artitions 3;

described as" applied to' boilers for centraliheating purposes, itisto be understood that it isnot limitedto such boilers. When applied to'heating apparatus of 'the"ordinary type, ihstead-ofbeing wrjcontrolledbythe temperature of the waterin' the 1 boiler, the thermostat device would be' operated by the temperature of the space to be heated.

I claim:

70ll=atd with'said nozzles, saidooolingiiieahs ex-=" tended to the delivery ends ofthe nozzles,'gr avity coal supplying means located above the trough' and" delivering "coal' in i the trough andmeans to supplysaijd nozzleswith air underpressuregi i 7531 '2;A heating devicecomprising' ahe'ating source 2 pressure to the nozzles.

"4. "A heating device comprising a heating source formed "with an open topped trough adapted to contain a bed ofsmall'sized coals, downward- 1y directed nozzles arranged with their delivery under pressure to thenozzles whereby air issued therefrom: passes through the inner space of the trough the coal'feeding means located so that l the coals are delivered therefrom in the same direction as the air from the nozzles.

5.-A heatingidevice comprising a fire box formed as an open topped trough like member having a nonperforated bottom and downwardly sloping walls adaptedto contain abed of small sized coals the upper level thereof approximating the uppervlevel of said walls, water cooled air supply nozzles, said nozzles having their mouths a few of a comparatively shallow trough like member having-a nonperfo-rated bottom and downwardly sloping wall's. adapted to. contain a bed of; small sized coals'with the upper level thereof approximating" the upper level of said walls, water cooled air supply nozzles having their mouths directed in downwardidirection and locatedcentrally of the trough, gravity coal supplying means, a shutter and a delivery mouth for said coal supplying means;'and said last named mouthlocated centrally' of the trough, means to supply air under pressure to the'nozzles.

'7. A heating device comprising a fire box formed as a :troughililremember having a nonperforated extended along'the major axis of said trough, a 2

i -1 heating device comprising a fire box formed 7 to -contain, fa ibed of :small s'ized coals withtz-th upper: level thereof approximating the: upper level t: of-s'isaid'awalls; water: cooled :air..:2supply nozzles: 5 having their mouths directed in downward die;-

rectiomandiwithin' the inner spaceiof fthe troughl' below :the" upper 1 level thereof, said 1 nozzles 1 the-major axisiof the .trough lgravsv ity coalfsupplying'means,ashutter and a delivery: 7 ol imouth for said: coal supplying meansZJsaidZ-lasti named-mouth extended along the majorfaxisr of the trough and" j us'tw 'aboveitheiair supply nozzles; =11 means to supply air under pressure to the nozzles: v 8. A heating device comprisinga fire box'formed 15 4 "as a 'trough like member having a nonperforated "'5: bottom downwardly sloping -walls, adaptedv? to= contain, a 'bed of I smallz sized coals, water" co'oled aii supply nozzleehaving their mouthsL- directed in downward direction 'and delivering: 0" "within the inner space of the'troughy gravit coal supp-lying means located above the trough"? anddelivering coal in the vicinity of the upper level 5 of saidx.trough air passages having their-' mouths 'above the upper level'of the trough,-'means I 'to supply air under pressure to the firstnamed P nozz1es,"-means to' supply air to the said: passages v; andl heat' controlled means: to contror thefzsupew ply of pressure air to the nozzles;

-9. A heating device comprising a firebox formed 0*" 'as a trough like member having a nonperforated a botto-mand downwardly sloping :wa'lls adapted to-contain, a bed of."smalltsized-"coals; water? cooled air: supply nozzles having utheir mouthse directed in downwarddirection anddelivering within' the inner space of thetrough, said noz zles arranged centrally along the majoraxis of". the trough, -gravity coal supp y n means -located above the trough i'and' delivering" coal :in the vicinity of the'upper'level of said trough, a 1 cshutter and a delivery mouth for saidcoal sup? plying means, said last mouth extended centrally along the major axis of the trough and 'just' above the nozzles, and means to supplyair under" pressure to the nozzles. st 10'. A heating device comprising va fire "box formed as a trough like:member having-a nonper-foratedbottom, a combustion chamber abovesaidtrough, nozzles arranged with'their: delivery ends within the trough, means'for delivering fuel-' 5 to the trough from abovesaidtrough; andmeans:

for supplying the nozzles with airunder pressure;

11, A heating device comprising :a 'fire box formed as a trough like. member having a non perforated bottom, nozzlesarranged with their 7 delivery ends within the trough; means for the continuous delivery of fuel to the trough" from above said trough, and means for'supplying the nozzles with air under pressure:

12. A heating device comprising 'a fire box so formed as a trough like member having a non-r perforated bottom, a combustion chamber above said trough, nozzles arranged-with their delivery ends within the trough, means1for"deliveringw; fuel by gravity to said trough, andmeansfor sup-7- t=plying the nozzles with air under pressure.

13'. A heating device' comprising'a firebox: formed as a trough like memberhaving a non-' perforated bottom, nozzles arranged with-their delivery'endswithin thetrough, meansfor the continuous delivery of fuel to thetrough from above said trough, means for supplying {the nozzles with air under pressure, and the. -delivery arranged to deliver thefuel in the same v direction-as the air from the nozzlesx. 14.-A heating device comprisingi. ;a lfire: :box

" livering:fuelmfrom' above to the' receiver as it is:

aormes bottom and" downwardly sloping WaIIs adapted' i' formedias a" trough:likefmemberhavingrsa non'- perforated bottom; nozzles: arrangedt-with-itheir: deliveryiendsiwithin the trough, meanslforitheii continuous delivery IOf' fuel tou-the;troughcirom above"said i trought'fsaid fuel zdeliveryrmeansl lo+ catedrcentrallylto Rt'he troug-h; andmeans forssupt-c plying air under pressure-tto'themozzles:

15. ZA heating device-:comprising a" fuel receiver havingrsa non=perforatedifuel supporting bottom surfacej lta .combustionizchamber"above said 're-.=- ceive'r; nozzlesarranged with their: delivery ends withiniotherxreceiver, means:'for delivering :fuel from'above tdthe:receiver as it is burned therein, :1 and means: fOIYi supplyingt-the: nozzles with air under Ipressure: i

A heating device'comprising a fuel receiverw, having: a non-perforated :fuel supporting :bottom isurfaces-nozzles arrangedwithv theirdelivery endswithin ithefreceiverrmeans :for automatically ides burned' ithereinpand' means for supplying the: nozzles with air under pressure.

l7. A ifheating -?device comprising a gratelessr fuel receiver, a combustion chamberiabovesaid f receiver;nozzlesarrangedwith their delivery ends 25 within:i'thekreceivemzmeansradapted for gravity delivery of fuel from above to the receiver-as it isx-burn'ed therein; and. means for: supplying: the nozzles with-rairhunderpressure;

18.v heating device comprising a fuel receiver having'a: non-perforated fuel supporting surface; a blowingfirdevicei centrally arranged Within said-* receiver;.::a centrally arrange d=-=fuel feeding deer:- viceideliveringfthef uel f rom: above to :the receiver assit burned therein',:and7means f'or .supplying fi thelzblowingivdevicei with: air under :pressure:-1

19. A heating device comprising a fueIIreceiVer' havinga non-'perforated-:f-uel supportingrsurface, a blowing devicei centrallyqarrangedewithin said receiver: a. centrally arrangedgravity fuel feeding device"'delivering the :fuel: from above to the re- 1 ceiveras-it isburned: therein; and. means. for -sup-, 1' plying the blowing device with air under pressures 20 .r A heatingrdevicer comprising a fuel receiver halving anon=per forated :fuelsupporting surface, 45% a combustion :chamber abovesaid receiver, a blowinguievicearrangedwithin said receiver, said: blowing:devicer of lesser ex-tension than the: re-- ceiver, a fuel feeding device:delivering the fuel fromvabdve-to the receiver, and means for=sup- 505,5 plying the" blowing dBVlCG'With air under pressure,

21. Aheating. device comprisinga fuel receiver having a non -perforatedfuel supporting surface,- a combustion chamber above said receiver a blowingdevice arranged within said receiver, said blowingdevice of lesser" extension than the--re--- ceiver,: a fuelfeeding device arranged-abovesaid iblowing vdevice-xand of lesser extension than the receiver,=:said..fuel feeding device delivering the fuel-from. above-to-the receiver, and-means vforsupplying-the blowing device withair under pressure:

22. A heating device comprising a fuelreceiver having-a non-perforated fuel supporting surface, a blowingdevicearranged-within said receiver afuel feeding-device arranged-above-said blowing, device:and deliveringxfuel from above to-the i e-.- ceiver,' 'thei said-blowing and fuel feeding device of lesser extension-than the receiver and-of about thesame longitudinal 1 extension, andmeans for .705? supplying the blowingdevice withair under pressure.,--

23. A heating device comprisinga fuel receiver a having-a non-perforated fuel supportingsurfacew a blowing 1 device arranged centrally. ,within said 7 receiver, a gravity fuel feeding device arranged from above to the receiver as it is burned therein, the blowing and fuel feeding device of lesser extension than the receiver and of about the same longitudinal extension, and means for supplying the blowing device with air under pressure.

24. A heating device comprising a fuel receiver having a non-perforated fuel supporting surface,

fuel from above to the receiver, means for supplying the nozzles with air under pressure, air passages having their mouths above the receiver, and means to supply air to said passages.

25. A heating device comprising a fuel receiver having a non-perforated fuel supporting surface, nozzles arranged with their delivery ends within the receiver, means for automatically delivering fuel from above to the receiver, meansfor supplying the nozzles with air under pressure, and heat controlled means to control the supply of pressure air to the nozzles.

AIME VANDEVELDE. 

